Lumber-kiln.



J.' MOLAUGHLIN.

' LUMBER KILN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG; Z3. 1909.

973,872. Patentegpt. 25,1910.

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NITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MGLA'UGHLIN, 0F OTTAWA, ONTARIO, (ZM'HWAIDAn LUMBER-KILN.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Application filed August 23, 1909. Serial No. 514,334.

vthe circulation of air in lumber kilns, to

condense, intercept and collect the moisture in the circulating air and prevent splash and spray from drip, to equallze the temperature of the drying chamber, to economizel the space of the same and to increase the rapidity ofits working.

In the drawin s which form a part of this specification :gFigure l is a vertical transverse section of my improved kiln. Fig. 2 is a partial horizontal section, on line .Q -2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section, on line 3 3, Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a cross section, on line 4 4, Fig. 1, showing the disposition of the pipes in the condensingv coils.

The structure forming the drying chamber is composedk ofthe Hoor A, the sidewalls A:l and A2, the endwallsA3 and A4 and the roof A5; one of the endwalls, which may I- i to form with it an airspace or Hue, 4, which be called the front, being open and prepared to be closed with a large door or doors (not shown) to admitof the ingress and egress of the, loaded wagons carrying the material to be operated upon in the kiln. The Hoor is given a slight slope for drainage and the roof is Vusually a Hat lean-to, as shown, requiring one sidewall (A1) tov be higher than the other and leaving an angular space or spandrel on the side of the said wall, which is usually waste space. l The heating apparatus consists, of coils or pipes, C, placed in an approximately horizontal tier, adapted for the circulation of steam, hot water or other medium and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to be fed from a header, C1, and draining or returning into another, C2. Beams, B, are placed above the heating apparatus; hupon them the rails, B1, are secured which carry the wagons, D.

The sidewall A1 is faced the whole of its length, but not extending to the Hoor and roof, with a false wall or partition, E, standing a little distance therefrom, so as merges at top and bottom into horizontal Hues 3 and 5, both of which are made deeper and act as condensing chambers. These may be described as horizontal and deeper continuations of the Hue 4 along the roof and Hoor respectively and having contracted mouths, z'. e., inlet, 2, at top and outlet, 6, near the Hoor, being formed by the approximately horizontal continuations, El, at top and, E2, near the Hoor, of the false wall E,

extending only partly across the chamber, approximately to the vertical center line of the same and having vertical lips or continuations, c1 and e2 respectively, the former ascending, the latter descending. The continuation El forms the Hoor of the upper condensing chamber 3 and the bottom of a wide glitter, being for that purpose provided with an innerv lip, e0, in continuation of the partition E, to prevent water running or splashing into the Hue. 4. The gutter is drained by a down-spout or pipe F. The continuation E2 forms the top or ceiling ofthe lower condensing chamber 5 which is coniined by the vertical lip c2 descending nearly to the Hoor, but leaving an egress space, 6.

The condensing chambers are each provided with two tiers of pipes, G, G1, adapted for the circulation of cold water or other f refrigerating medium. These pipes are disposed transversely into the condensing chamber and at an incline, rising from the bottom at that side of thechamber on which the current enters to the top at theother side, thus compellingthe current to pass through the coil, z'. c., between the pipes of the same, the latter being placed in staggered relation as shown `in Fig. 4. Said coils are shown to be fed from headers, g, connected by bends, go, and ldrained by headers, g1, but this system of fitting isvnot essential, the essentials being the inclined position .of the pipes, completely intercepting the space transversely, their staggered disposition and their being limited to only two tiers. Y

It may be remarked that the placing of the condensing chamber 3 utilizes the spandrel adjacent to the high wall and roof in a drying chamber already constructed and which is usually waste space. As the Hue 4 absorbs but little space from the total width of the drying chamber--four inches being` suHicient-it can generally be obtained keven if' originally not designed for the purpose and with the condensing chamber 3 forms a kiln of admirable working capacity, even if the lower condensing chamber 5 is not obtainable but is reduced to a mere horizontal egress from the flue `rl. Bringing the mouths of the condensing chambers (2 and G) near the center line of the main chamber is also a feature of value; if they are too much on one side, the upcurrent is apt to be up the side walls, where there is usually more free space from the lumber piled in the chamber and the circulation is impaired by inequality. It may also be pointed out that the inclined position of the condensing` pipes causes the condensate that forms on their surface to run down on them and avoids all kinds of drip. rlhis drip, where it exists, is a considerable drawback to the eflicient working of a kiln, as the drip causes splash and spray which is carried forward with the current and therefore fails to keep the air dry. For this reason more than two tiers of condensing pipes are also avoided, as in case of drip the pipes below the two upper tiers receive that drip and simply have to do the work of the upper pipes over again.

The operation may be briefly described thus: The air is heated by the heating pipes C, spreads laterally and rises in contact with the stuff that has been placed in the kiln and takes up moisture. Risen to the top, it passes by the opening 2 into the condensing chamber 3 where in its current it is compelled to pass between the cold pipes Gr and G1 and come into contact with them. The vapors contained in the current are thus condensed on the surface of the pipes, formed into drops thereon and these run down the inclined pipe to the bottom El and are carried off by the drain pipe F. The current of dry and cooled air having become heavier now sinks down the flue 4L and enters the condensing chamber 5 where any remaining moisture is intercepted in the same manner as in the upper condensing chamber. The current leaves the lower condensing chamber 5 by the exit G at or near the center line of the main chamber and spreads and passes through the heating apparatus again and the round is repeated. The air current is indicated by arrows.

I claim as my invention 1. In a lumber kiln, the combination with the walls forming a chamber, of a false wall facing one of the side walls and forming a narrow flue, approximately horizontal continuations of said false wall at top and bottom extending partly into and near the center line of the chamber and forming hol"- zontal deeper continuations of said flue as condensing chambers, vertical lips at the inner edges of said horizontal continuations of false wall contracting the mouths of the condensing chambers, condensing coils within said condensing chambers consisting of two tiers of pipes placed in staggered relation and sloping transversely across said chambers, means of drainage for said condensing chambers and heating apparatus in the lower' part of the main chamber and above the lower condensing chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lumber kiln, the combination with the walls forming a chamber of a false wall facing one of the side walls but short at top and bottom and forming a narrow flue, approximately horizontal continuations of said false wall at top and bottom extending partly into and near the center line of the chamber and forming horizontal continuations of said flue, the lower one deeper to form a condensing chamber, a vertical continuation or lip at the lower edge of said lower horizontal continuation descending near the floor but leaving a mouth or space forming the egress from and said descending lip forming the inner confine of the condensing chamber, two tiers of condensing pipes placed transversely in said chamber and sloping from the iioor of the ingress side to the top of the egress side and disposed in staggered relation and heating apparatus placed in the lower part of the main chamber above the condensing chamber, substantially as set forth.

3. In a lumber kiln, the combination with the walls forming a chamber, of a false wall facing the highest side wall but short at top and bottom and forming a narrow flue, approximately horizontal continuations of said false wall at top and bottom extending partly into and near the center line of the chamber and forming horizontal continua` tions of said lue, the upper one deeper to form a condensing chamber, a Vertical continuation or lip atfthe inner edge of said upper horizontal continuation ascending near the roof but leaving a mouth or ingress space formino' the ingress to and said ascending lip forming the inner confine of the condensing chamber, two tiers of condensing pipes placed transversely in said chamber and sloping from the floor of the ingress side to the top of the egress side and .disposed in staggered relation, an upward extension of the false wall above the floor of the condensing chamber to complete the trough shape, a down-spout draining said trough and a heating apparatus in the lower part of the main chamber, substantially as set forth.

4. In a lumber kiln, the combination with the walls forming a chamber, of a narrow flue facing the highest side wall in its whole length, a condensing chamber at a vertical end of said flue extending horizontally partly across and near the center line of the said main chamber and having a contracted mouth adjacent to said main chamber, condensing pipes placed transversely sloping the lower part of the main chamber, sub- 10 across sald condensing chamber and rising stantially as set forth.

from the floor of the ingress side to the In testimony whereof I have aflixed my top of the egress side and consisting of signature, in presence of two subscribing two tiers placed in staggered relation, witnesses.

means of conning the precipitated water JOHN MCLAUGHLIN. at the bottom of said condensing cham- Witnesses: ber, means of drainage of said condensing A. HARVEY,

chamber and means of heating the air in B. HARVEY. 

